Oliver's Peeping Tom
Pratt Street Ale House

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a dark brown color and a moderate head that leaves some lacing

Smell: Modest aroma of roasted malt

Taste: Starts out with a baking chocolate flavor that is joined by some earthy bitterness after the swallow

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and slightly effervescent carbonation

Drinkability: Enjoyable but not overly memorable

Part of the brewery's Coventry Collection. A wonderful malt profile with a distinct mocha finish, just the right amount of coffee and chocolate. Neither was center stage. Described in the menu as being between a brown poter and a stout, somehow it seemed more a cross between a robust porter and oatmeal stout, but nicely done, whatever the lineage.

This is part of Oliver's new Coventry line of dark ales. It is served in a tumbler, chilled.

Appearance: The porter is brown-black in color, with a whitish head. There are nice brown notes the escape when the ale is held to light.

Smell: The ale has a nice roasted character, softened a bit by an old stale beer aroma (that is a good thing).

Taste: The ale's roasted character does not jump out and grab you. It is there but not in your face. The nicest part of the taste is the slightly lactic stale beer flavor. It gives the ale a bit of a Rodenbach flavor (but not to such a strong degree). The roast malts and this degree of staleness make the ale taste very good.

Mouthfeel: Good mouthfeel. The sour-sweet take is pleasant.

Drinkability: A little tough at 7% abv, but good nonetheless.